Separating constituent hydrocarbons of petroleum vapors by partial condensation thereof



H. 8. SMART. smmflmu CONSTITUENT HYDROCARBONS or PETROLEUM VAPORS BY PARTIAL CONDENSAIION THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED Inn. 25. me.

1,437,689; Patented Dec- 5,1922.

a "f f IP19, f i

W i zy gw HENRY New York city,

' invente phoric pressure Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

O. SMART, OF BROOKLYN, NEW OF NEW YORK, OF NEW YORK,

SEPABA'I'ING OONBTITUENT YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HYDROCABBONS OF PETROLEUM VAPOBS BY PARTIAL CONDENSATION THEREOF.

Application filed March 25, 1919. Serial No. 284,920.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY C. SMART, a citizen of the United States, residing at borough of Brooklyn, county of Kin in the State of New York, have certain new and useful Improve ments .in' Separating Constituent Hydrocarbons of Petroleum ,Vepors by Partial ,ondensation Thereof, of which the followmg is a specification.

his invention relates more particularly to so arating constituent hydrocarbons of petro eum vapors "which have been evolved at least in part at temperatures above (500 in distilling gas oil or other heavy distillate of petroleum under superatmosfor motor spirit (or for motor spirit and other products), or in distilling crude petroleum for naphtha, burnmg oil (kerosene) and heavier distillates. Such separation by partial condensation of the vapors has been recognized as possessing special difficulties in view of the character of the vapors opt-rated upon. Each llIlprovement is, however, to be secured also for all other appropriate uses.

In the accmnpanyingdrawings Fig. 1 is a view in central vertical section of an air cooled condensing tower in'accordain-c with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away of two air cooled condensing towers connected in series. each of the towers being constructed in accord ance with the invention; and Figs. 1, and 4 are partial views in central vertical oi the two towers of Fig. 2 respectively.

Heretofore many types of air cooled condensing towers have been devised. Without here attempting to mention all it may be said that in one of these old types there has been an upright shell exposed freely to the atmosphere for cooling on its exterior and provided inside with aseries of deflectors which cause the vapors to pass at intervals as an annular stream of large diameter and relatively small thickness between the peripheries of said deflectors and the shell oll, that in another type an upright shell lriis contained numerous at least approximately parallel pipes, which subdivide the vapors, and the cooling air into numerous streams. the pipes in some towers of this type conveying the vapors'and in others the cooling air, while the other aeriform fluid (that is to say, the cooling air or the vapors, according to the case) flows over and between the pipes, and that in eachof the two types mentionedthe condensate has ordinarily, but not in every instance, descended through the same passages through which the vapors have ascended. y

In accordance with the present invention, and as shown in Fig. l, the shell a, of large diameter, has a yapor inlet '0 below and an outlet 1] above for the residual vapors. it is provided inside with each of a disk f (which lies transversely to the shell Wall and slopes downward towards the center) and an upright rim f", and being of somewhat smaller diameter than the inside of the shell (1.; so as to form a.

succession of annular passages g of large diameter and relatively small thickness. The rising vapors are thus made to passfat intervals as an annular stream of large diameter and relatively small thickness between the peripheries of said deflectors and the Shell wall The supports for these deflectors can be of any suitable description which allows the vapors to pass as al'orcsaid. i

As shown in Fig. 1, the supports fol-deflectors f consist of rivets 25; each of which passes through therini f of a deflectorand through thc wall of shell (I, and also through an intcrvcning washer 26. They areheadcd inside the rims and outside the shell wall. As shown in Fig. 3. hcnt supporting strips 27 are fastened to the inside of the wall of shell u. and to: the rims f" of the deflectors at the upper parts of said rims. In Fig. 4 ties 2S and struts 29 are shown for supporting deflectors 7 through the medium of a ring h, itself secured to the shell wall as mentioned 'lwlow. Each of the strips coniposing said ties and struts is fastened at one end to the ring 71 and at its opposite end to thc disk 7" of a deflector 7.

Below each deflector f is a ring it having a large central opening; which ring lies transversely to the shell wall, with which it niakesa close joint at the periphery. and slopes downward toward the central opening. It is shown secured to the shell wall by means of an angle strip 1.

lnclosing the shell (I is a flue jacket j, that is to say. aiacket with an interior dianieter substantially greater than the ex-.

deflectors f, consisting current by I mg somewhat of a terior of the shell (1, provided with an inlet for cooling air below (at k) and an outlet for the warmed air above (at l).

the post and is 0 rated by a chain ehain is engaged with a hook or oth r holding device' (not shown) for retaining the valve in the'position in which it is open to the extent desired. itself when closed on the structure in which the outlet l is located. In operation, the vapors are cooled by contact with the wall of shell a (from which the heat is abstracted by the stream of cooling air in the flue of jacket 7') and become con- Drops'of condensate first form, it is believed, and then unite into a stream; which flows downward in the tower. Instead of allowing this stream to follow the same course downwardly, which is pursued upwardly by the vapors, each of the deflectors f is provided with an opening 7; through which the condensate can pass; but which is closed (practically at least) against the passage of vapors in some suitable way, say by making it sufliciently small in size relatively to the annular passage 9, or (as in Fig. l) by roviding it with a trap a, or as may be pre erred.

.The separation of condensate from residualvapors is also promoted by the downward inclination inwardly of the bottom surfaces of the rings k; which inclinatmn favors the collection thereon of the drops of conden-i sate which may be in suspension in the vapor placing said surfaces more directly in opposition to the vapor flow andso givdownward sweep vapors. The flow by gravitation of these drops towards the inner edge of the ring is also favored by said inclination; which is made sufiicient for the purpose. The similar downward inclination inwardly of the bottom surfacesof deflectors 7 also favors the flow by gravity inward of the drops of condensate which may collect on these surfaces.

By having confined streams respectivel of cooling air and vapors to be cooled which travel in the same direction on opposite sides of the shell wall a the temperature difference The valve m seatsto the and the escaping vapors should besth e more free from entrained particles of condensate for this reason.

, In the new or improved condensing tower, therefore, a confi ned and controllable stream peratnre as it rises by conduction through the intervening shell wall from stream of vapors to be cooled, which rises in the shell 12 and diminishes .in temperature as it rises, which is made to pass at intervals as an annular stream of large diameter and relatively small thickness be tween the peripheries of deflectors, and the shell wall, which is separated from the descending stream of stead of around the same after the manner abstracts heat of the vapors) and which is'fre'ed as promptly as may be from the drops of condensate by special arrangements to that end (suclras the inclination downward and inward of the bottom surfaces of the deflectors f -and rings i The tower of F ig; l is designed more particularly. for use in distilling petroleum under super-atmospheric pressure at decompos' ing temperatures in the oil operated upof (all of which temperatures lie above 600 P1). The compressed vapors would pass through the vapor pipe 0 from the pressure still (not shown) to t in tower; and the residual pressed, would pass by pipe 1 to a water cooled condenser (not shown). The condensate would pass away from the tower by the pipe u. Whatever liquid may separate from t e vapors vapor pipe c would return to the still, the .vapor pipe r inclining upward towards the tower. The condensate'from the tower could be delivered by pipe a to a distillate receiver or th the still, as the operator might determine. By closing the valve w in pipe 11 the condensate from the tower could be mad sure still through the vapor pipe c. it is designed for the operator to adjust the valve at so as to obtain condensates of the character desired by him from the tower (which is shown) and from the'water cooled condenser (not shown) which is connected with pipe A tower with a shell or three and a half feet in diameter and twenty five feet in height, containing six of the deflectors f is considered of suitable size for vapor pipe 0 to be six inches in diameter.

he annular passages g in such a tower may hi one inch in widthbetween the rims f of deflectors f and the enclosing shell 11.

ion

vapor inlet 7; of the The towers ol lags. 2. 3 and 4 are de signed more particularly for use in distilling crude petroleum at temperatures in the oil operated upon which rise to above (300 F. after the. naturally present burning oil (kerosene) hydrocarlmns have come over. In each of these towers the similarly lettered parts correspond with those of Fig. 1. It will be observed that the rims f" of the deflectors f are lowestin PIODGItlOH' to diameter in Fig. 3, highest in F in. 1 and intermediate in Fig. at. The ratio of depth of rim to diameter of deflector might be less thanthe minimum or more than the maximum shown. Rims might even be omitted fromall or from part of the deflectors, if preferred. It is considered not worth While to. provide traps for the openings in the bottoms of deflectors f in the towers of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in view of the intention to operate them under atmospheric pressure.

Two of the deflectors w in the lower part of shell (1 in the large tower of Figs. 2 and 3 are directly connected with pipes 12 and 13 for withdrawal of condensate; and there is also a condensate witlnlrawinl pipe 1-4 leading from the bottom of the shell (I. The -ondcusate from all or any of these pipescanbe returned to the still or be drawn oil as distillate. Appropriate arrangements could be made for receiving last runuings in a distillation to dryness, or approximately .50 (such last runnings being: variously known as wax tailings, still wax or gum). Such arrangements are known and form no part of the present invention.

The shell (1 of said. large tower below the fine jacket j is shown provided with a non conducting jacket 15; so to permit a sepa ration of condensate before the vapors comnience to be cooled by the airiiu the flue formed by jacket j, and the wall of shell (1. The vapors pass from the crude oil still (not shown) through the upwardlv inclined vapor pipe 16 to the lower part of the shell (I of said large tower. The residual vapors pass from the upper part of said large tower through the vapor pipe 17 to the lower part of the small tower (Fig. 2).

The residual vapors from the small tower f Fig. 2 would-pass by pipe 18 to a water cooled condenser not shown. The condensate from said small tower is withdrawn through pipe 19 and can be collected as distillate or be returned to the oil distillation, as preferred. 1

With a crude oil still in the form of a horizontal cylinder 14% feet in diameter and 47 feet in length, it is consider d suitable to use a large tower with a shel as seven feet in diameter and twenty three and a half feet in height, containing three deflectors f and three deflectors a and a. small tower with a shell a: four feet in diameter and eleven as; height, a vapor pipe :10 to be twelve inches in. diameter and the vapor pipe U to be ten inches in diameter. The annular passages g. in the large tower may be say two inches in width between the rims j" of deflectors f and the inclosiug shell a. The annular passages g in the smaller tower may be say three ,inches be tween the rims if" oi the deflectors and the and the inclosing shell (1..

\Vhile the intention is, in distilling under superatmospheric pressure, to hold the vapors under the still pressure when they are passing through the tower, they might, if so desired, be passed through the tower while held under atmospheric or other pressure below that in the pressure still.

Modifications by addition, omm'ission or otherwise can be made indefinitely in the subject-matter herein above described, so long as the substance is retained of any one or more of the hereinafter written claims.

I claimas my invention or discovery:

l. lu separating constitutent hydrocarbons of petroleum vapors from each other, by a precedure wherein petroleum vapols evolved at temperatures above 600 1*. have the form of a thin annular stream, divided into successive sections of greater length than thickness of stream while flowing; over and in contact with the surface of an air-cooled heat-conducti11;; wall. the iniprovemcnt which consists in abstracting heat from said thin stream of vapors by means of a confined and controlled stream of cool-- ing air greater in thickness than the vapor stream and equal in length to the combined lengths of a succession of said vapor stream sections. the said air stream flowing over and in contact with the opposite surface of said heat-conducting wall and becoming warmer as it passes the successive sections. and in causing the so formed condensate to separate from the vapors between sections and to flow away withoutdescendinq through lower sections of said vapor streams. substantially as described.

A condensin tower for separating constituent hydrocal 'lions of petroleum vapors from each other, which tower comprises (first) an elongated shell of lleat-conducting.

material having an inlet for vapors to be partially condensed and an outlet for residual vapors, (second) rimmed deflectors located inside said shell transversely to the tower axis at intervals between said vapor inlet and vapor outlet and so constructed .and arranged as to leave a succession of annular open-ended vapor passages of greater length than thickness between the deflector rims and the shell wall. (third) an elongated jacket so constructed and arranged outside said shell as to form an air flue around said shell, that is greater in thickness than the said .vapor passages, sa d an fluebelng open at as lower to separate from the vaporsin the s between adjacent vapor passages an for causing the separated condensate to flow through lower away without dscendin ly as described.

vapor passages, substantia 3. In separating constituent hydrocarbons each other, bye

of petroleum vapors from V procedure wherein petroleum vapors'evolved at temperatures above 600 F. have the form of a thin annular stream,,divided into suc-v cessive sec ions of greater length than thickness of stream while flowing upwardly "91 1' and in contact with the surface of an cooled heat-conducting wall, the improvement which comprises,

said thin stream of vapors by means of a confined and controlle stream of cooling air, greater in thickness than the vapor stream and by falling on an intermediate underlying surface of a not, substantially greater area, so constructed and arranged as not to intercept condensate that drops from the lowest part of the surface above, and (third) causing the separated condensate to flow away without descending through lower sections of said vapor stream, the inclination of the overlying surfaces mentioned being sulficient to induce the adhering condensate to flow away from said heat-conducting wall beneath said surfaces whileadhering thereto, substantially as described.

4. A condensing tower for separating constituent hydrocarbons of petroleum vapors from each other. which tower comprises (first) an elongated shell of heat-conducting material having an inlet below for vapors to be partially condensed and an outlet above for residual vapors, (second) deflectors in the form of funnel-like disks with upright peripheral rims located inside said shell transverselv to the tower axis at intervals between saidvapor inlet and vapor outlet andso construc ed and arranged as to leave a succession of annular open-ended vapor passages of greater length than thickness between said (fourth) meansfor controlucing condensate,

ten "sages, and (fifth) means forcontro in combination, the: three steps of (first) abstracting heat from.

rated .in' part directly over deflector rims and the shell Wflll," (third) dished rings of an exterior diameter equal to the interior diameter of said shell and not substantial! greater in surface area than the said do ector disks, located inside Sflifl fllifill transversely to the tower axis between" adjacent deflectors and so constructed; and arranged as not to inter wpt condensate. that drops from. the lowest? partof the deflector disk above,

'( fourth an elongated jacket so constructid and arranged outside said shell as to form an air flue'around said shell, that is greater in thiclmess than the said vapor passages, said air flat/being open at its lower 'part for-ingress ofcooler air and at its u per part for egress of the warmed air, an exdlng over a succesion of said va r pasing the flow of air through said flue, the inclination of the under surfaces of the deflector disks and the rings being sufficient to in-- duce the thereto adhering condensate to flow towards the tower axis beneath said surfaces while adhering thereto, and vision bein made for causing the co ensate which 13 separated by the aforesaid de vices from the vapors to flow away without descending through lower vapor ,pas sages substantially as described.

5. A condensin tower for separating con stituent hydrocar hons of petroleum vapor from each other, which tower (first) an elongated shell of heat-conducting material having an inlet'for partiallycondensed and an outlet for maid-- ua'l va rs, (second) rimmed defi 'located inside said shell transversely tower axis at intervals 'between"said vapo inlet and vapor arranged as to leave a. sucoesfsion of axigmlalf o n-ende vapor assa 0 Mr V tilfn thickness bel ween t he deflector and: the shell wall, (third) an e1 jacketgreater in diameter than the saidlshell, except at the top, where it' isreduced an opening smaller than the said shell in diam eter, said jacket forming an open-ended air flue greater in thickness than the said vapor to the r outlet and so constructed and passages, surrounding saidshell and lothe top thereof, and (fourth) a valve forthe opening at the top of said jacket arranged y its adj ustment to control the flow of air through said flue, provision being condensate-"co separate from the vapors in the spaces between adjacent vapor passages and for causin the separated condensate to flow away without descending throu h made for inducing lower vapor passages, substantially as escribed.

In testimony whereof I to this specification.

HENRY 0. SMART.

'aflix my signature 

